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The Zone: Life and Death

The Zone: Life and Death

Yuriy, a man born in a small Ukrainian town outside of the 30km Zone of Alienation around the site of the Chernobyl disaster struggles to support his family as the growth of the Zone's borders threaten the stability of the area and more. Reports of fence-hoppers known as Stalkers (Scavenger, Trespasser, Adventurer, Loner, Killer, Explorer, Robber) seeking wealth, adventure or asylum within inspire him to risk everything in pursuit of the money his family desperately needs.

But with the promise of wealth and adventure also come rumors of environmental anomolies that defy the laws of physics and deadly mutants with terrifying properties. Yuriy must make his way to the Zone, evading military patrols along the border of the ecological disaster zone, steer clear of anomalies able to crush an APC to the size of a tin can or reduce a man to fragments with explosive force, and establish himself in one of the several factions observing loose alliances or vendettas with each other as they further their own goals in the Zone.

Along the way, Virtue makes some friends and enemies while experiencing the horrors of the Zone first-hand. While on a mission, his team and him discover disturbing evidence that sheds new life on the supposed accidental explosion in Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. They decide to take matters into their own hands and make for the inaccessible center of the Zone to uncover the truth behind what really happened and discover the origin of the Zone.

Note: This book is currently in the final draft process. All links with a [Final Draft] tag are completed. Anything else is pending heavy edits. It is recommended that you only read the final draft version of a link as anything else may be incomplete and contain informational holes. Other than that, enjoy. :)

After reaching the center of the Zone with the help of fellow Stalkers Gremlin, Phantom, Jargon, Solitaire, Zombie, Nimbus and Enigma and learning the secret of his past, Virtue returns to the Zone to aid his friends as all Stalkers begin to find themselves under the microscope of the world's attention.

[22:13]
Why didn't I leave when I had the chance? This place is cursed by the Shadow of Chernobyl being cast over everything that used to be good... and now it's the only hope left. I don't know how it's come to this; I was stupid to think I would be able to provide for my family with such a meager wage. I dare say that there is more corruption on the outside of the Zone than there is inside. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
It’s funny that I’d rather walk into a deathtrap than back to my devastated wife. But something about it calls to me like it’s promising me a new life; an escape from the pain of this world. I don’t know what it is, but something in my gut tells me my future is there and that there’s nothing left for me here. It’s settled then; I’ll make some final preparations and then make my way over to the border of The Zone. I’m unsure of what lies ahead of me, but at this point nothing is worse than what I’m leaving behind.
I can still see Emelia laying my…

These mutated dogs roam the Zone, usually in packs. They are not too physically different from their ancestors. besides the fact that their skin is typically burned, leathery and hair is only found in small patches if at all. They are also exponentially more aggressive and will eat almost anything. Another unnerving feature about them is their eyes. Usually the eyes are either dead from birth or dying - some even covered by a patch of skin. It's obvious they rely heavily on their other senses for survival in the Zone.
Excerpt from a report filed by Ukraine Security Service:

A creature of legend to those who have been close enough to the more experienced Stalkers during the fires at night.

Eyewitness reports claim the creature is bi-pedal and is believed to be a human mutation, though certain characteristics also suggest a possible bear origin.

Stories tell of 4 tentacle-like obtrusions branching from the sides of the mouth and highly-reflective eyes that can be seen "floating&…